Guide to cycling the Canal du Midi in southern France, 240km from Toulouse in the Haute Garonne to Sete on the Mediterranean Coast. The flat, picturesque route is divided into five stages, each around 50km long. Includes detours to sights close to the canal as well as longer excursions, including Narbonne, Minerve, Carcassone and Beziers.

Map key Overview map INTRODUCTION Regions of the canal History Wildlife Culture Cycling the Canal du Midi When to go Getting there and getting around Accommodation Food and drink Your bike What to take Cycling the towpath Health and safety Weather Maps Money and communications Using this guide THE CANAL DU MIDI Stage 1 Toulouse to Port Lauragais Stage 2 Port Lauragais to Carcassone Excursion 1 From Criminelle lock to St-Ferr&##xe9;ol reservoir Stage 3 Carcassone to Homps Excursion 2 From Tr&##xe8;bes to Lastours Excursion 3 From Homps to Minerve Stage 4 Homps to B&##xe9;ziers Excursion 4 To Narbonne and Port la Nouvelle Stage 5 B&##xe9;ziers to S&##xe8;te Excursion 5 To Vendres salt lagoon Excursion 6 Across Portiragnes marshes to S&##xe9;rignan Appendix A Stage planning tables Appendix B Accommodation Appendix C Useful information Appendix D English-French glossary Appendix E Further reading